Advertising device



June 10,1930. B, NEWELL 1,762,409

ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed Sept. 19, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l y V 26 e/a/yw //eh// Eig-@ I yAZ?" 7'l June 10, 1930. L B, NEWELL 1,762,409

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Patented June 10, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ZEELAND B. NEWELL, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS ADVERTISING DEVICE Application. led September 19, 1927.

This invention relates to advertising devices, and more particularly to an advertising device to which attention is attracted by reason of its ability to maintain itself in an unstable position in apparent defiance of the law of gravitation. Briefly described, the inven tion comprises display means in combination with gyrostatic means for maintaining the display means in an unstable position. The

invention is especially useful in advertising annular objects, such as tires.

The principles of the invention will be best understood by reference to the following description of divers embodiments of the invention, which shall be interpreted as illustra-- tive only and not in a limiting sense.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur,

Figure 1 is an end elevation, partly in section on the line 1-1 in Figure 2, of one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical central sectional View of another form of the invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the same, partly in section on the line 4-4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a third form of the invention;

Figure 6 is an elevation of the saine, look ing in the direction of the arrow in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a vertical central sectional View taken on the line 7-7 in Figure 5.

Referring now to the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, an inflated tire 1 is placed on the rim 2 of a hollow casing 3, that in the pres- 40 ent instance is formed to simulate a disc wheel in external appearance. The casing 3 comprises opposing lateral wall sections 4 and 5, respectively, that are disposed in spaced relation by the intervening rim 2,

preferably formed integral with the wall 5.

The central portions 6 of the sections 4 and 5 develop outwardly to simulate caps that cover the axles of the wheels. Bolts 7 secure the sections of the casing together. A bear- Serial No. 220,501.

portion 6 of wall 4, being preferably formed integral with or welded or otherwise suitably attached to the wall 4. An electric motor 9, suitably bolted to the inner side of cap portion 6 of wall 5, presents an inwardly projecting shaft 10, to which is suitably affixed the hub 11 of a fly wheel l2, and whose extended end is journaled in the bearing 8. T he motor 9 is supplied with current through leads 13, that emerge from the casing through an opening 14 in wall 5, and are connected to a suitable source of electrical energy through the intervention of the usual switches and controlling devices (not shown). When the tire and casing has been placed in a certain position, and the motor started, the rapidly rotating fly wheel 12, because of its large moment of inertia, tends to maintain its plane of rotation, and thereby prevents the tire from falling if it has been placed in the vertical position shown in Figures 1 and 2 or in any unstable position. It will be observed that the moving parts are concealed in the casing 3, tending to mystify an observer as to the cause of its tendency to remain erect. If desired, the casing 3, instead of resembling a wheel, may be made to simulate a globe that is encircled by a tire.

The form exhibited in Figures 3 and 4 comprises a wheel 15, having thereon an in- Hated tire 16, disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and supported by a substantially vertical shaft 17, that passes through the hub 18 of wheel 15 and is suitably affixed therein. The lower end 19 of shaft 17 is of spherical enlargement formation, so as to seat universally in spherical thrust bearing 20, formed in a plate 21, secured to the floor 22 by suitable bolts 23. End 19 is hollow to receive one end of a flexible shaft 24 that is suitably affixed to the shaft 17'. Shaft 24 casses down through an opening 25 in the floor 22 and has its other end affixed to the shaft 26 of an electric motor 27, attached to suitable support. When motor 27 is energized, it rapidly spins the wheel and tire through the intermediacy of flexible shaft 24 and stem 17, after the fashion of spinning a top, and thereby sustaining the wheel and tire in a substantially horizontal plane, the spherical formation of the thrust bearing 20 permitting deviations of the stem 17 from a vertical position.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7 embodies a tire borne by a gyroscope so that the tire will be carried around by the precessional movement of the gyroscope. The fly wheel 28 is affixed to the shaft 29 thatis coincident with' the axis of spin of the gyroscope. Shaft 29 is journaled in bearings 3Q and 3l disposed on opposite sides of an annular frame 32 that straddles the flywheel 28. Bear-ing Slenlarges out-,V wardly and laterally from frame 32 into an arcuate shaped hollow arm 33, whose depending end 34 is of spherical formation and is pivotally borne by a thrust bearing 35 formed complementary thereto on the upper end of a hollow post 36 that is secured to the floor 37. An electric motor 38 is secured to `the underside of the floor 37 and drives shaft 29 and fiy wheel 28 through the intermediacy of flexible shaft 39, which passes through hollow arm 33 and hollow post 36 and aperture 4() in floor 37 and has one end connected to motor shaft 4l an the other end` connected to shaft 29. An inflated tire 42 is mounted on a rim 43 that is detachably secured to frame 32 by means of screws 44 and preferably in the plane of the fly wheel so as to encompass both the fly wheel and the annular frame 32. It will be observed that, when the motor is started with the parts in the position shown in the drawing, the tire will precess around the vertical axis of the post 36 vdue f to the torque produced by the weight of the tire and fly wheel and associated parts about an axis at right angles to both the axis of the post 36 and the axisof the shaft 29, respectively.

An imitation tire may, of course, be substituted for the real tire in all forms of the invention; and the form of Figures l and 2 may, also, be driven by a remote electric motor through the intervention of a flexible shaft as are the forms of Figures 3 to 7, inclusive, or, conversely, the latter forms may be driven directly by a motor without the intervention of a flexible shaft as is the form of Figures l and 2. rlhe fly wheels in the embodiments exhibited by Figures 3 to 7,

inclusive, may, also, be concealed inside of a suitable casing, 1f desired, and the tire may be mounted on the casing.

Having thus fully described this invention, I

the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

n l. A gyroscopic device comprising a shaft, f a fly wheel mounted upon the shaft, means for rotating the shaft, a support for the shaft, a casing inclosing the shaft, fly wheel and shaft rotating means, and said casing having at is periphery means for supporting an article to be displayed.

2. A gyroscopic device comprising a casing including opposing spaced wall sections, a shaft rotatably mounted within said casing and having one of its ends supported by one of said sections,a flywheel afhxed to said shaft, means positioned within said casing for rotating said shaft and a rim associated with said casing and being adapted to support an article. to be displayed.

3. A gyroscopic device comprising a casing formed to simulate a disc wheel, said casing including opposing lateral wall sections presenting outwardly developed central portions and an annular peripheral rim adapted to Ysupport an article to be displayed, a shaft lrotatably mounted in said casing, means for supporting said shaft, a flywheel affixed to said shaft and means for rotating said shaft, said means and flywheel bein g embraced within said casing.

ln testimony whereof I hereunto aHix my signature.

' LELAND B. NEWELL.

Thr. .New 

